Chapter 4
4
Zoe
Two weeks later…
“Wait. Brett? Noah’s big brother, Brett ? As in LeCavalier Brett ?”
“The one and only.” Numb, I nodded as I unlocked the front door to the brownstone we shared. Eden and I were rooming together until she found a place of her own. Of course, it had been six months, but it was better than living with her mom and stepdad. Even though Eden turned twenty-four this summer, her stepdad was just a tad overprotective in the best possible way.. The walk from Noah’s place a few doors down took maybe five minutes. Noah, as in LeCavalier Noah, invited a few of the Triumph players over for a pre-madness/preseason dinner. Training camp began in just a few days, and there were a few new guys who he invited to stay at Noah’s place until they found out if they made the team or not.
Eden and I left when the boys brought out the gaming chairs and did that weird chest bump thing guys sometimes did. Out came the PS5 controllers, the headsets, and a few extra beers. Being around them going head to head in some insanely immature and loud video game was not my idea of a good time. I loved Noah, but unless he snuck out the Nintendo he hid for our Kirby tournaments, Eden and I were out.
Rowdy hockey players taking out their aggression gaming? Not as much fun as it sounded. Even if they were easy on the eyes.
Noah got all emotional in the middle of dinner about how his big brother was going to coach the Triumph. My stomach dropped. The guilt worsened when Brett sent him a text telling him he’d be in town in a few days seconds later. Eden, my other best friend, kept throwing glances my way, twiddling with a strand of her bright pink hair. Eyes narrowed on me, watching every reaction.
When we begged out of the rest of the night, Noah teased as he walked us to the door, “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were sneaking off with your summer fling instead. But Mr. Mystery man is thousands of miles away, so you get these idiots instead. Makes sense.”
“Hey!” Stephen Linders, the team’s star defensive player, peaked his head around the corner. He added, with a fake pout, “I’m offended. See you later, Zoe. Eden.”
Eden waggled her fingers at him, then turned her attention to me as I pretended to look for my keys. Watching every movement.
As if she realized I kept something pretty big from her that included Noah somehow. And the text he read out loud as I choked on the spaghetti marinara from our favorite Italian place.
Eden knew I hooked up with someone on my mini escape over the summer. I just never told her who. Or that the reason I needed to get away was my secret situationship with Liam and his two-timing ass. Add one more thing to the list of secrets I was keeping.
As soon as I threw my keys in the bowl on the kitchen island, I broke down and told her my hot-as-fuck beach hook-up was Noah’s older brother. As in, also the new coach of the Triumph.
Eden buried her face in her hands. Then she brought out the vodka, lips pursed and silent, poured shots. We downed one together. With a grimace, Eden motioned for me to continue, and listened to my incoherent ramblings.
By shot number three, I confessed I thought about him constantly. “But it’s hopeless to even think anything else could come of the night we spent together. Ugh,” I groaned as I buried my heads in my arms on the countertop.
“Noah is going to ice you out when he finds out. Not because of having crazy, dirty sex with his older brother. But because you kept it from him.”
“Which is why I am not going to tell him.” I raised my clear shot of false liquid courage and threw it back like I was still in college. The burn as it made its way down to my already torn up in knots stomach only made me feel worse. “And neither are you. ”
Eden raised a brow as she gathered her multicolored hair and twisted into a bun on top of her head. “What else aren’t you telling me, Z?”
I froze, all that guilt eating away at me. But instead of confessing all my sins, or should I say dickhead Liam’s sins, I shook my head. “Nothing.”
Hand on her hip, she glared at me. “So you’re telling me you just so happened to be at some random beach bar, buzzed like a little honey bee? For no other reason than you missed the beach and magically ran into Noah’s hot, emotionally unavailable older brother. The same one Noah told us was a grumpy man whore? Then, BAM,” she snapped her fingers, “woke up in bed with him after a gloriously dirty night of sex?”
“Yep. Nothing else to tell.”
Her eyes narrowed. Seconds ticked away as she twined her hair around her finger, lips pursed. A finger pointed at me as she reached for a cookie from the jar we kept on the island. “You can lie to Noah, Zoe, but I am on to you. Fine. Keep your little secret. I’ll be here when you’re ready to attend confession. With vodka.”
A ping from her phone distracted her. I breathed a sigh of relief until I noticed the concern etched on her features. And how pale she appeared as she read the message on her screen. “Eden? Is everything ok?”
“Huh?” she asked, enormous eyes looking up, then back down in quick succession as she turned off her phone and slipped it into her back pocket.
“The text?” I pointed to her phone as I shoved a cookie in my mouth.
Her eyes widened, then she shook her head. “Nope, everything is fine. For now. I hope you know what you’re doing, Zoe.”
I sucked a deep breath and reached for another cookie. “So do I.”
Two weeks later…
NOAH: Tell me there’s tape. All the tape, Z.
ZOE: You barely use it, N.
NOAH: I use it. But you know I looove new tape, Z. Especially at the beginning of the season. It’s like getting a warm hug from the equipment staff.
ZOE: Ok, Olaf.
NOAH: Z! I need to know if there’s tape.
NOAH: Does Walker use tape? Are we going to be tape bros?
I shook my head with a roll of my eyes and snapped a pic of the huge plastic round bins overflowing with tape. Noah might not use a ton, but he loved his tape. Goalies rarely added tape to their sticks because it added weight, but Noah didn’t care.
My big brother taped it for me after I had a terrible game and wanted to quit. He said it was magic. That tape and Brett is why I’m here, Z.
NOAH: HELL YES! Also, I’m calling it. Tape Bros Unite.
In a few weeks, both of our brothers would be here in Montreal. My big brother, Walker, was traded days before training camp started to fill the gap in the Triumph’s D, and I couldn’t be happier. I only hoped he kept his big brother vibes in check. He knew about Noah, but he wasn’t convinced that our relationship was strictly platonic.
Noah LeCavalier had become my best friend the day I locked my keys in my car. Which, coincidentally, had been my very first day of my real job as Lanie’s assistant in the PR department. At least, I thought I locked them in. Turned out, when I left the office I shared with Lanie and Chris, Lanie’s other assistant, I put them on top of the tiny fridge Lanie kept stocked with all kinds of sparkling waters and snacks from the commissary. Locked in the building, and not my car. I stayed after everyone had left, putting my things away and familiarizing myself with the new roster and each player’s unique foundations or pet charities.
Internship versus a position with the Triumph was as different as night and day.
Internship, I fetched coffee, La Croix, and scanned a few social media accounts to make sure everyone behaved. My workplace, more often than not, was in my car and nowhere near the facility or players. But now? Lanie entrusted the Triumph’s main Instagram account and one other social media site to my care, while Chris assisted her with the media. All those reels of the walk-ins and favorite song posts?
All on me now.
Not only were we the last two people in the parking lot, but Marc, the team’s security head, left as soon as we walked out the door because he had to pick up his daughter from swim team practice across town.
As I let out a frustrated growl, Noah came up behind me, scaring me so badly, I swung my purse at him.
“Woah, slugger! It’s me! Your favorite goalie. No serial killer or mugging in the parking lot with a hockey stick. Just tape.” He held up his equipment bag, well, as much as he could since it was slung over his shoulder and massive.
“Oh,” I breathed, heart racing, and winced. “Sorry.”
He chuckled, and once he realized I was stranded, offered to share his dinner while we waited for someone to come up and let us back in. Once I realized where I left my keys.
Then we argued about who was right in Marvel’s Civil War, and the rest was history. I was a Cap fan. Noah? Stark. All the way.
A wave of guilt threatened to crash over me. How I lied to Noah when he asked if I had run into his brother when I went to the beach for a week. How I decided to sleep with Liam’s new coach to get back at him for cheating on me. My cheeks flushed as I thought about that night that bled into the morning. The hours we spent naked, whimpering, and begging my best friend’s older brother to revenge fuck me. Not that anyone knew it was a revenge fuck except me. Even if no one, even Noah and Eden, our other bestie knew I had been dating the Triumph winger.
“Hey, Zoe, still here?” Marc asked with a grin. Yep, ever since the night I lost my keys, the sweet and burly man checked in on me, making sure I not only had my keys, but that I never stayed in the building alone. Or at the arena.
“No rest for the wicked and social media. How’s Stassi liking school?”
He beamed with pride. His daughter swam for her college swim team and was on track to make the Canadian Olympic Team for the upcoming Games. I was Team USA, but since Montreal was my second home, I cheered for my second home. Especially Stassi.
“Training. She called last night. Loves her dorm, but misses her mom.”
We chatted for a few more minutes, and then assured Marc I had my keys with a laugh.
EDEN: Dinner? Noah texted me. Usual place.
ZOE: Perfect. Tape day.
EDEN: No wonder he’s all hyper. Texted THREE times. See you soon. Love!
Eden’s hot pink and purple strands were easy to spot, even amidst the busy Thursday night crowd. She waved me over, and I weaved and bobbed until I reached the table. The spread on the table made my mouth water. My stomach growled in agreement.
Loudly.
Her eyes widened as she looked me up and down. I glanced down at the outfit I painstakingly picked out. Lanie mentioned our new head coach was supposed to stop by and picked for his media packet. Which included his iPad, press and arena team credentials, and other official business. Then meet the rest of the staff. But, she sent a text, informing everyone Brett LeCavalier’s flight from Columbus had been delayed due to a mechanical failure.
Sigh. I wasted my favorite outfit.
Eden may have pink and purple hair, but she was always impeccably put together. Adorable, sexy, and dressed in the cutest ensembles that fit her unique style. Today, it was a black off the shoulder sweater and white capri’s set off by hot pink kitten heels that matched her hair.
But, I was giving her a run for her money in my royal blue cropped top and matching pencil pants. I shrugged as I sat down and breathed in all the yumminess. “Lanie is having us do team photos. Today was team colors profesh, tomorrow is Triumph Pride. Preseason kick-off on the accounts.” And any day now, Brett would show up for his first day and heaven knows he’d probably hate me. “These heels not only look killer, they are literally killing my poor feet.”
She snorted and wiggled her feet with a cheeky grin, then slid a full to the rim glass my way. “Thought you might like this, takes the edge off. And,” her hazel eyes sparkled, “you might like that for later.” I followed the direction her finger pointed, my heart pounding in my chest, because some silly, romantic, way too horny part of me thought he would be here. But instead of Brett LeCavalier’s gray eyes and scruff covered jawline, a pair of pale blue eyes and blond floppy hair winked back at me.
Sigh. No spark. Not even a tiny one. How pitiful am I?
“Sorry I’m late. I had to stop by the airport.” Noah said, a big grin on his face as he approached the table. “And fuck, am I hungry.” He reached for the apps Eden ordered before anyone showed up as he sat in the chair opposite me. She swatted at his hand with a playful growl. “Hey!”
“ Hey is right. You know this is your treat, right?”
The goalie rolled his eyes, and repeated like it was from rote memory, “Last to arrive-”
“Pays the tab,” we all finished.
“Why am I always the one picking up our dinners?” he grumbled over the rim of his water glass before draining it all in one gulp.
“One,” I said, ticking the reason off on my finger, “you get paid more than Eden and I ever will.”
“And two,” Eden added, “you’re always late, Noah.”
He glared at her until she relented and let him grab one of the loaded taco fries that everyone in town obsessed over. “Fuck, I love these. There has to be crack in them. Or maybe some elicit drug that could fuck me over if I get tested, but I don’t care.”
Eden and I shared a look because Noah loved hockey more than anything in the world. So much so that he ignored the opposite sex, no matter how often they threw themselves at him. The girls loved Noah, but he loved hockey. In the three years I knew him, he’d had one serious relationship that ended when Tory decided she didn’t want to compete with the net.
After that, he focused on training, the game, and the community outreach the players all took part in.
“Better than sex,” Eden agreed. Her head tilted. “Don’t you think, Zoe?”
I shot her a glare. “I couldn’t say, Eden.”
Relentless, she asked, “What about the guy from this summer?”
For the first time since we met, I flushed bright red talking to my best friend, who was more of a girlfriend than Eden sometimes. Because that great sex Eden referred to was with his brother.
“These,” I said as I jabbed a fry covered with deliciousness at her, “are better than any old sex I could ever dream of having.”
“Even the greatest night of your life?” A deep voice from behind me asked. I jumped, because, God, I knew that voice. Had dreamed about, fantasized about…while using my favorite solo late night date toy.
Noah jumped up and hugged his big brother while I remained frozen in place, unable to move, barely breathing. My skin tingled in his presence even though I hadn’t even looked into his eyes or breathed in his scent. “Brett, I’d like you to meet my two best friends, outside of Brody and Kulichek. Eden, this is my brother Brett.”
Eden, eyes wide as she glanced from me to Noah, recovered and held out her hand. “Welcome to Montreal and to the Triumph. Noah talks nonstop about you.”
His voice dripped down my spine. Warm, commanding, and the epitome of sex on a stick.
Shit. Revenge sex turned into an addiction I couldn’t allow myself to indulge in ever again.
“Noah talks nonstop about everything,” he said in a dry tone.
“Oh, Tornado. You’ll beg and plead, and I’ll take whatever I want.” I heard the words from that night in my head. They trickled down the back of my neck, along my spine, and settled low in my belly.
“And this,” Noah drawled as he took my arm and spun me around to face Brett, “is Zoe.”
Gray eyes that had haunted my dreams. A smirk played on his lips. Lips that kissed and knew every secret spot on my body. Then his brow drew together in confusion as I stuck my hand out and plastered a smile on my face. “Nice to meet you, Coach. The Triumph is lucky to have you.”
His palm, warm and rough the way I remembered, held my hand for a moment longer than was polite. Eden watched it all like we were on a National Geographic tv show. But Noah, bless his heart, was oblivious to it all. He released my hand after an extra second or two, but the heat of his touch lingered after we broke contact. Memories of how that hand played my body snuck in like a devil on my shoulder, whispering and trying to corrupt me.
Like I would have any issue letting this man do whatever he wanted. Hell, if Noah wasn’t here to remind me why I couldn’t, I would be on my knees, begging.
“Zoe runs the social media for the Triumph, so I have to put up with her more than you will, big bro.” Noah’s grin, usually infectious, had the opposite effect on my rolling stomach. He nudged me with his shoulder. “IF you see her coming with her phone, hide.”
I punched him in the arm, a little harder than I intended. Noah scowled. “You’re so in for it now, goalie. Figure out your favorite T. Swift song for training camp walk-in.”
His eyes widened in horror at having to choose. “You wouldn’t.”
A wicked grin spread across Eden’s face, but then it faded as her phone pinged. But she didn’t check it. I sent her a quizzical look, but she shook her head. Then her smile was back in place. “Better choose wisely, Noah. All those Swifties might take you off the most eligible Swifty bachelor list.”
“Never. They love me.” He held up his wrist, showing off his wrist, which was covered by friendship bracelets. “Airport. Swifties are everywhere, and they love me.” Brett snorted, but his eyes remained on me. “Don’t worry, big bro, I’ll explain who Taylor is after you take a nap,” he teased.
Breath, Zoe. Reminding myself wasn’t helping, and I was just about to escape to the bathroom when Brett said, “You work for the Triumph?”
Noah’s head jerked back. “I told you about Zoe, dude. Should I be worried about your mental capacity?”
Brett shot him a death glare. “Your life is in my hands, lil bro.” Noah shrugged and dived back into the fries. “So, Zoe,” I shivered at the way he said my name, rough and rich with promise, “you’re with the Triumph?”
I nodded and saved myself from saying anything inappropriate by showing fries into my mouth, even though I was no longer hungry. At least, not for fries. Trouble. I’m in so much trouble. Eden watched the exchange with a mixture of fascination, pity, and utter amusement. Noah, thankfully, focused on his stomach and was blissful and ignorant at the underlying narrative between his best friend and his big brother. “As Noah mentioned, I run the team’s main social media platforms and stalk them for reels and soundbites. But,” I backed away, needing to get a little space so I could breathe, to escape to the bathroom, “if you’ll excuse me for a moment.”
My legs trembled as I scurried away and made a beeline for the bathroom. I didn’t think seeing him again would affect me like it had.
A revenge fuck with someone who wouldn’t catch feels. Or want more.
Only I hadn’t counted on catching feels for my best friend’s older brother.